Torremaggiore
Encyclopedia
Torremaggiore is a town and comune
in the province of Foggia
in the Apulia
region of southeast Italy
.
It lies on a hill, 169 m over the sea, and is famous for production of wine and olives.
in 1018. Later a Norman, Hohenstaufen
, Angevine
and finally Aragon
ese possession, it is especially remembered as the death place of Emperor Frederick II (December 13, 1250).
Five years later the burg was attacked by Pope Alexander IV
's troops, and the inhabitants fled to a nearby Benedictine abbey. Later they were allowed to found a new settlement, called Codacchio, later, when other refugees from Dragonara arrived, christened Terra Maioris ("Major Land"), the modern Torremaggiore. This burg was later a fief of the counts of Sangro. It was destroyed by an earthquake on July 30, 1627.
From August 25, 1925 Torremaggiore was connected to the nearby San Severo
by a tram
way, the first in southern Italy
.
, United States
Canosa di Puglia, Italy
Villafalletto
, Italy
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
in the province of Foggia
Province of Foggia
The Province of Foggia is a province in the Apulia region of Italy.This province is also known as Capitanata, originally Catapanata, because during the Middle Ages it was governed by a catapan, as part of the Catapanate of Italy...
in the Apulia
Apulia
Apulia is a region in Southern Italy bordering the Adriatic Sea in the east, the Ionian Sea to the southeast, and the Strait of Òtranto and Gulf of Taranto in the south. Its most southern portion, known as Salento peninsula, forms a high heel on the "boot" of Italy. The region comprises , and...
region of southeast Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
It lies on a hill, 169 m over the sea, and is famous for production of wine and olives.
History
The history of Torremaggiore is strictly connected to that ot the burg of Fiorentino (also Castel Fiorentino), a Byzantine frontier stronghold founded by the catepan Basil BoioannesBasil Boioannes
Basil III, called Boioannes in Greek and Bugiano in Italian, was the Byzantine catapan of Italy and one of the greatest Byzantine generals of his time. His accomplishments enabled the Empire to reestablish itself as a major force in southern Italy after centuries of decline...
in 1018. Later a Norman, Hohenstaufen
Hohenstaufen
The House of Hohenstaufen was a dynasty of German kings in the High Middle Ages, lasting from 1138 to 1254. Three of these kings were also crowned Holy Roman Emperor. In 1194 the Hohenstaufens also became Kings of Sicily...
, Angevine
Capetian House of Anjou
The Capetian House of Anjou, also known as the House of Anjou-Sicily and House of Anjou-Naples, was a royal house and cadet branch of the direct House of Capet. Founded by Charles I of Sicily, a son of Louis VIII of France, the Capetian king first ruled the Kingdom of Sicily during the 13th century...
and finally Aragon
Aragon
Aragon is a modern autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. Located in northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces : Huesca, Zaragoza, and Teruel. Its capital is Zaragoza...
ese possession, it is especially remembered as the death place of Emperor Frederick II (December 13, 1250).
Five years later the burg was attacked by Pope Alexander IV
Pope Alexander IV
Pope Alexander IV was Pope from 1254 until his death.Born as Rinaldo di Jenne, in Jenne , he was, on his mother's side, a member of the de' Conti di Segni family, the counts of Segni, like Pope Innocent III and Pope Gregory IX...
's troops, and the inhabitants fled to a nearby Benedictine abbey. Later they were allowed to found a new settlement, called Codacchio, later, when other refugees from Dragonara arrived, christened Terra Maioris ("Major Land"), the modern Torremaggiore. This burg was later a fief of the counts of Sangro. It was destroyed by an earthquake on July 30, 1627.
From August 25, 1925 Torremaggiore was connected to the nearby San Severo
San Severo
San Severo is a city and comune of 55,486 inhabitants of the province of Foggia in the southern Italian region of Apulia....
by a tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
way, the first in southern Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
Main sights
- The Castle of the Dukes of Sangro, built from a Norman tower, it has maintained the Renaissance appearance. It has four circular and two square towers, and a throne hall with a precious 17th century fresco frieze. It is home to the archaeological exhibition of findings from Fiorentino.
- Chiesa matrice di San Nicola ("Mother Church of St. Nicholas", 13th century), built by the refugees from Fiorentino and Dragonara. It was rebuilt in 1631 after the earthquake.
- Church of Santa Maria della Strada (early 16th century).
- Sanctuary of Santa Maria della Fontana.
- Church of the Madonna di Loreto (16th century), erected by AlbaniaAlbaniaAlbania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
n immigrants. It was rebuilt in 1627. - Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli (17th century).
- Castle of "Fiorentino" (11th century), the place of the death of Frederick II.
- Castle of "Dragonara" (11th century).
Notable people
- Rogerius of ApuliaRogerius of ApuliaRogerius of Apulia was a medieval Roman Catholic monk and chronicler, born in Torremaggiore, Apulia...
(c.1205–1266), medieval Roman Catholic monk and chronicler - Luigi Rossi (1597–1653), musician
- Raimondo di SangroRaimondo di SangroRaimondo di Sangro, Prince of Sansevero was an Italian nobleman, inventor, soldier, writer and scientist, best remembered for his reconstruction of the Chapel of Sansevero in Naples.-Early life:...
(1710–1771), prince and scientist - Nicola Fiani (1757–1799), patriot and radical, executed after the collapse of the Parthenopean Republic
- Fortune GalloFortune GalloFortune Thomas Gallo was an Italian-born opera impresario. Gallo was owner and General Manager of the traveling San Carlo Opera Company from 1913 until its disbandment in the late 1950s.-Biography:...
(1878–1970), opera impresario - Nicola Sacco (1891–1927), anarchist, executed following a controversial American trial
Twinnings
BuffaloBuffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Canosa di Puglia, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
Villafalletto
Villafalletto
Villafalletto is a comune in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 60 km south of Turin and about 20 km north of Cuneo....
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
Sister School
- Hutchinson Central Technical High SchoolHutchinson Central Technical High SchoolHutchinson Central Technical High School, informally known as Hutch-Tech, is a high school in the City of Buffalo, New York. Its founding on September 14, 1904 under the name Mechanics Arts High School marked the beginning of technical education on the secondary level in the city of...
in
BuffaloBuffalo, New YorkBuffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...